LAFAYETTE, La. – Texas State (10-1, 5-0 Sun Belt) won its 100th Sun Belt Conference match with a superb comeback from an 0-2 deficit to win the nightcap 3-2 (14-25, 18-25, 25-20, 25-15, 15-10) vs. No. 15 Louisiana Friday night at Earl K. Long Gym. Junior outside hitter Janell Fitzgerald dropped a career-high 24 kills to lead the Bobcats.
 
After a rocky start and on the verge of being swept, Texas State took its game to another level and got stronger and stronger as they completed the backwards sweep to clinch the weekend series over the nationally ranked Ragin' Cajuns. The Bobcats pulled out the victory despite a .170 hitting percentage and matching a season-high 11 service errors. The Cats did turn in a season-high 83 digs however, and registered 11 blocks in the match, marking the third time this season the team has recorded 10 or more blocks. They also held the Ragin' Cajuns to zero aces for the second consecutive match.
 
"I love the fight and grit of this team," said head coach Sean Huiet. "We knew were going to be in for a dogfight this weekend and tonight was proof of that. Janell [Fitzgerald] stepped up and carried us tonight offensively. I also thought Michelle Foster came in and did a great job for us. She served aggressively and helped us create that early separation in the fifth set."
 
Fitzgerald (.320) reached the 20-kill mark for the second time this season and it was the third time a Bobcat has reached 20-plus kills since sophomore outside hitter Caitlan Buettner logged 27 kills in the season opener vs. Central Arkansas. Fitzgerald also registered a career-best seven digs and finished with two blocks, including one solo. Junior outside Kenedi Rutherford is averaging 11 kills per match after repeating her performance from earlier in the day, and also set a career-high with seven digs. Junior setter Emily DeWalt recorded her seventh double-double this season and the 39th of her career with 49 assists and 13 digs. DeWalt also had a season-high seven blocks and added two kills. Sophomore outside hitter Lauren Teske matched a career-high with three aces to lead the team and finished the match with seven kills, 12 digs, and two blocks. Junior libero Kayla Granado anchored the defense with a team-high 21 digs and senior setter Brooke Johnson had 15 digs and one ace in the match.  
 
Sophomore middle blocker Kara Barnes led the Ragin' Cajuns with 16 kills and seven blocks, while senior outside hitter Hali Wisnoskie followed with 13 kills and added four digs and three blocks. Junior outside Kelsey Bennett concluded Louisiana's top hitters with 12 kills and had a double-double with her 17 digs. Bennett also logged four blocks. Senior setter Avery Breaux also had a double-double with 51 assists and 12 digs, and senior libero Hannah Ramirez led all players with 25 digs.
 
The Bobcats are now 20-2 all-time vs. Louisiana and are 7-2 when playing in Lafayette.
 
Set 1
Louisiana won a wire-to-wire opening set 25-14. La. scored the match's first four points before Texas State cut into the lead by scoring five of the next seven points. The Ragin' Cajuns then responded with a 5-1 advantage that was highlighted by a 3-0 run to force a Bobcat timeout and the home team extended their lead to nine at 17-8 to pressure TXST to use its final timeout of the set. The home team dominated from there as they held the reigning conference champions to a .026 hitting percentage. Fitzgerald led the way with six of TXST's nine kills.
 
Set 2
The Ragin' Cajuns jumped out to a 7-2 lead but a Bobcat 4-0 run trimmed the lead to 7-6.  Texas State pulled within one point four times and tied it twice, but Louisiana did not relinquish its lead and separated themselves 20-15 behind a 3-0 run and another 6-1 run to make the score 23-16. The home team took a 2-0 match lead after winning the frame 25-18.
 
Set 3
The Bobcats took their first lead of the match at 4-3 after Fitzgerald went on a personal 3-0 run. Both teams found themselves locked in a tie three times before Louisiana regained the lead and went ahead 9-6 behind a 4-0 run. The Bobcats fought back with a 5-1 run, forcing a Louisiana timeout with the visitors leading 11-10. Texas State's lead grew as many as three points (16-13) before a Ragin' Cajun 5-0 run made a lead change 18-16 to force a Bobcat timeout. Out of the break, Teske's kill sparked a 4-0 burst that expanded to a 9-2 scoring run to close the set and avoided the sweep with a 25-20 victory.
 
Set 4
Texas State pressured Louisiana into burning its first timeout of the set after a 4-0 run put the visitors ahead 7-4. The run grew to six unanswered, making the score 9-4 before Louisiana stopped the bleeding. It was all Bobcats from there though, as the Bobcats evened the match with a 25-15 victory. Fitzgerald and Teske paced the Bobcats with three kills each.
 
Set 5
The Bobcats jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the deciding set that forced Louisiana to run through both of its timeouts. The visiting team continued to dominate and won the set handily, 15-10 behind five kills from Fitzgerald to complete the comeback.
 
UP NEXT
The weekend series between Texas State and Louisiana will conclude at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 with a rubber match at Earl K. Long Gym.
 
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